How Do You Treat Seborrheic Keratosis?

Treatment / Management

There are several different treatment options available for removing seborrheic keratosis. Seborrheic keratosis is a harmless condition that usually doesn't require any treatment. However, many patients still choose to undergo some form of therapy for these growths. Typically, the removal of seborrheic keratoses is done for cosmetic purposes or if the lesions are consistently irritated and causing discomfort to the patient. If there are any suspicious, bleeding, rapidly growing, or changing lesions, there is a higher risk of malignancy and they should be biopsied or removed.

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If a seborrheic keratosis becomes irritated or unsightly, removal is conducted using one of these three methods:

• Cryosurgery, which freezes off the growth using liquid nitrogen.

• Curettage, in which the doctor scrapes the growth off the surface of the skin.

• Electrocautery, used alone or in conjunction with curettage to burn off the tissue and stop the bleeding.

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